This article is within the scope of WikiProject Cetaceans, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of cetaceans on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.CetaceansWikipedia:WikiProject CetaceansTemplate:WikiProject CetaceansCetaceans
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Japan, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Japan-related articles on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the project, participate in relevant discussions, and see lists of open tasks.JapanWikipedia:WikiProject JapanTemplate:WikiProject JapanJapan-related
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Canada, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Canada articles on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.CanadaWikipedia:WikiProject CanadaTemplate:WikiProject CanadaCanada-related
This article is within the scope of WikiProject United States, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of topics relating to the United States of America on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the ongoing discussions.
This article is part of WikiProject Cascadia, an attempt to better organize information in articles related to Cascadia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.CascadiaWikipedia:WikiProject CascadiaTemplate:WikiProject CascadiaCascadia
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Africa, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Africa on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.AfricaWikipedia:WikiProject AfricaTemplate:WikiProject AfricaAfrica
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Norway, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Norway on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.NorwayWikipedia:WikiProject NorwayTemplate:WikiProject NorwayNorway
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Arctic, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Arctic on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.ArcticWikipedia:WikiProject ArcticTemplate:WikiProject ArcticArctic
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Mammals, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of mammal-related subjects on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.MammalsWikipedia:WikiProject MammalsTemplate:WikiProject Mammalsmammal
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Marine life, a project which is currently considered to be inactive.Marine lifeWikipedia:WikiProject Marine lifeTemplate:WikiProject Marine lifeMarine life
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Spoken Wikipedia, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of articles that are spoken on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Spoken WikipediaWikipedia:WikiProject Spoken WikipediaTemplate:WikiProject Spoken WikipediaSpoken Wikipedia
Close
This article has previously been nominated to be moved. Please review the prior discussions if you are considering re-nomination.
More edits are also needed because it is no longer just 1 species.
Why it should be changed: Two new species of Orca have been identified in the North Pacific, Bigg's killer whale (Orcinus rectipinnus), and the resident killer whale (Orcinus ater).
References supporting the possible change (format using the "cite" button): [1]
Not done: it's not clear what changes you want to be made. Please mention the specific changes in a "change X to Y" format and provide a reliable source if appropriate. Dahawk04 (talk) 21:56, 10 July 2025 (UTC)
@Dahawk04 and CaitlinMK12: It looks like the OP had forgotten to use the {{textdiff}} template properly and had just wrapped the old and new text in curly braces, resulting in template redlinks. I've tried to fix this, but if I've misunderstood something, let me know ASAP. Duckmather (talk) 03:22, 11 July 2025 (UTC)
Looks like you did fine. ASM's MDD reflects the update in status to full species for rectipinnus and ater, so I suggest making the change as suggested. - UtherSRG(talk) 11:01, 11 July 2025 (UTC)
However, this will also require additional changes in other sections of the article. - UtherSRG(talk) 11:21, 11 July 2025 (UTC)
I'm not sure that they've been accepted completely as new species. Last I checked they were listed as subspecies? The Morrison Man (talk) 19:50, 11 July 2025 (UTC)
With ASM's MDD accepting them as species, this more than exceeds WP:NSPECIES and falls within the standards set by WP:Mammals. - UtherSRG(talk) 00:04, 12 July 2025 (UTC)
This study is already mentioned and the article mentions "The Society for Marine Mammalogy declined to recognize the two species, citing uncertainty as to whether the types constituted unique species or subspecies. "Pending a more complete global review and revision", the Society provisionally recognized them as subspecies Orcinus orca ater and O. o. rectipinnus, with O. o. orca as the nominate subspecies." They are most certainly NOT considered to be separate species currently by ASM. LittleJerry (talk) 23:19, 16 July 2025 (UTC)
@LittleJerry: What about this and this makes you think the ASM does not accept them as species? - UtherSRG(talk) 14:05, 17 July 2025 (UTC)
i meant the Society for Marine Mammals. LittleJerry (talk) 17:58, 17 July 2025 (UTC)
Fair. Though I note the dissenting opinion on SMM's list regarding their use of these taxa as subspecies: One member (RLB) does not agree with the practice of the Committee to make subspecies out of newly described species if they are not accepted by 2/3 of the group. These species were properly described [and] should stand as new species until they are reviewed by the next reviser of the species or species within these genera (Orcinus and Delphinus). The Committee has no official capacity to create new taxa as they have done now with Orcinus and Delphinus. - SMM overstepped their own bounds by deeming them subspecies. - UtherSRG(talk) 18:08, 17 July 2025 (UTC)
Regardless I think we should wait for them, as well as for it to catch on in the scientific literature. The suggested division is way too awkward and hopefully there'll be a global review as the SMM suggests. LittleJerry (talk) 18:32, 17 July 2025 (UTC)
There is space to add into the lead a sentence about the types and proposed species, which could serve for the moment. CMD (talk) 04:02, 18 July 2025 (UTC)
Semi-protected edit request on 29 August 2025
This edit request has been answered. Set the |answered= parameter to no to reactivate your request.
Change mean to main, it's in the characteristics section. Pootydootilytoot (talk) 13:03, 29 August 2025 (UTC)
Not done: It means "mean" as in average. CMD (talk) 13:05, 29 August 2025 (UTC)
Killer whale is preferred name
killer whale is still the preferred name in the scientific community. This article pretends orca is the preferred name. Amongst experts, it is not. A simple review of the scientific literature will confirm this.
2601:603:4F83:8F00:2006:74FE:242F:9209 (talk) 21:40, 7 October 2025 (UTC)
Search the peer-reviewed literature for "Orcinus orca" and see what you come up with. The prevalence of 'killer whale' dwarfs the usage of 'orca'. 2601:603:4F83:8F00:2006:74FE:242F:9209 (talk) 21:45, 7 October 2025 (UTC)
It's your argument, you want it changed, you provide the "Who", see WP:ONUS. - FlightTime (open channel) 21:49, 7 October 2025 (UTC)
I'm not looking to edit, I'm just letting you know it's difficult to take this entry seriously if you don't even use the nomenclature preferred in the scientific community and in policy making (eg, Southern Resident killer whales are listed under the Endangered Species act, not Southern Resident orcas). As far as usage by experts, Jared Towers, Brad Hansen, Michael Bigg, Deborah Giles, Ingrid Visser, Dave Elifrit, etc etc etc publish using killer whale. I don't care what term you use, they're interchangeable, but it's bullshit acting like 'orca' is universally preferred. 2601:603:4F83:8F00:2006:74FE:242F:9209 (talk) 22:02, 7 October 2025 (UTC)
The name of the article was changed to Orca roughly 3.5 years ago because it was clear that common usage had changed, which per WP:COMMONNAME is the right course to take. Though the experts and scientific community might still prefer killer whale, Wikipedia is intended for general audiences and thus follows the most used/commonly recognisable name. The Morrison Man (talk) 22:16, 7 October 2025 (UTC)
Error in the page
unclosed <ref> tag ~2026-14834-04 (talk) 19:13, 8 March 2026 (UTC)
level-4 vital article is rated FA-class on Wikipedia's content assessment scale.
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}
